There was little mention of Ramírez's disappearance at the end of last season (the Sox said it was because of patellar tendinitis), the ball club's aggressive offseason attempts to trade him at the request of his agents, or the front office's disappointment that he was not working out with the rest of his teammates last week.
"Can you give me some space, please?" Ramírez said when he arrived at his locker after his physical at 8:50 a.m. It was his only comment to the media on his first day of practice.
Ino Guerrero, Ramírez's personal coach, brought a chair over for Ramírez, and the two chatted while the slugger ripped open boxes of shoes (Ramírez switched to Nike this year). Ramirez shook hands with Coco Crisp, then chatted briefly with Julian Tavarez.
"Big day, huh, guys?" said catcher Doug Mirabelli as he walked past Ramírez. "What's going on here? Let him breathe, Ino."
Just after 9:15, Ramírez, wearing a blue do-rag, gray uniform pants, and Red Sox T-shirt, came out a side door and went into the batting cages to hit soft tosses from Guerrero as photographers scurried for shooting positions. He finished hitting at 9:30, in time to join his teammates stretching on Field 2, but got temporarily confused en route to the field and wound up mingling with Red Sox fans as he made his way to the workout. His reception from the fans could best be described as Lindberghesque.
"Oh my God, I touched him!," said a man who was wearing a Curt Schilling jersey and appeared to be more than 50 years old.
While Ramírez went to work, Genske made a weak effort to answer questions.
"He was ready to report and he's excited to be here," said a visibly nervous Genske.
READER COMMENTS »
View reader comments » Comment on this story »